Learning Technique: Talking with Quotes

• LessonUp
• English
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Primary Education
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Introductie

Learning method: Talking with Quotes Let your students argue like true thinkers! Writing doesn't always have to be original or creative to be interesting. In fact, sometimes it's fun to use existing texts and create something new from them!

Instructies

Talking with Quotes

Inspired by Kenneth Goldsmith’s concept of uncreative writing, this method isn’t about coming up with everything from scratch but about smartly selecting and combining. Students dive into quotes from great thinkers, scientists, artists, or book characters and let them engage in a conversation.

What is it?

"Talking with Quotes" is a creative and analytical teaching method where students collect existing statements and text fragments and use them to create a dialogue between two (fictional) characters. The focus isn’t on writing original texts but on making smart choices: which quotes strengthen an argument? How can different voices interact? This way, students learn to read critically, make connections, and argue in a fresh, engaging manner.

How do you create it?

Decide what you want your students to take away from the exercise. Are you focusing on a specific theme, helping them explore a thinker’s philosophy, or looking for a creative task? This choice helps determine whether you allow the use of devices or conduct the exercise as a class discussion.

Here are different ways to set it up:

• Slide: Prefer working without devices? A simple slide with an engaging image and a brief explanation of the task is enough. Students complete the assignment on paper and can later present their dialogues.
• Open or Photo Question: In an open-ended question, students can type their responses, but this takes time. Instead, let them photograph their written dialogues and upload them as a response.
• Word Cloud: Want a class-wide activity? Use a word cloud. Students take turns adding a quote in response to the previous one. This keeps them engaged, evaluating responses, and quickly finding suitable replies before a classmate beats them to it. Drag the answers to the correct character.

How does it work?

1. Choose a theme that you want students to reflect on (love, environment, technology, freedom, etc.)
2. Have students find relevant quotes. These could be from two well-known figures engaging in a discussion, or they could invent fictional characters who use quotes from various sources.
3. Students use these quotes to construct a dialogue. Can they craft a character with a strong and consistent viewpoint based on the selected quotes?
4. The dialogues can be performed, read aloud, submitted, or presented digitally.

Why is Talking with Quotes powerful?

1. Students learn to argue playfully by working with the words of others. However, the critical thinking process remains the same. To create a logical conversation, they must continuously assess whether a quote fits within the discussion.
2. This method stimulates creative and critical thinking while also enhancing language skills and analytical abilities.
3. Talking with Quotes brings the minds of great thinkers, artists, and literary characters into the classroom. Students can empathize and feel a deeper connection with these figures.
4. Their creativity and originality are also challenged. Can they outsmart their conversation partner and leave them speechless? And ask them—are they committing plagiarism or crafting a new story?

Tips for variation:

💡 Tip 1: Experiment with the final product—let students record their dialogue as a podcast or create a comic or animation.

💡 Tip 2: Provide sources of inspiration—share websites with quotes or include well-known statements on a slide. You could also start the conversation with two opening quotes and let students build on them.

💡 Tip 3: Encourage discussion—have students present their dialogues and give each other feedback. What do they think of the quotes? Which character do they relate to most? Are the opinions still relevant today, or have perspectives changed?

Want to try this method right away?

Create your own Talking with Quotes slides in LessonUp and design an interactive lesson that engages students instantly! This lesson includes examples for Cultural Studies, English, Physics, and Dutch, but the slides can be adapted for any subject. Save your favorite slide using the ‘Save’ button and customize it for your lesson with ease.

Difficulty level (designing):*

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Talking with Quotes

Learning Technique

What would Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso have to say to each other?

Talking with Quotes

Talking with Quotes

• Pair up
• One student searches online for quotes by Andy Warhol, the other for quotes by Pablo Picasso.
• Together, they create a conversation between the two artists using only these quotes.
• Will their discussion be about art, current events, or family?

How can the pairs create a smooth and coherent dialogue based on the artists' quotes?

Decide how much creative freedom you give students—

Can they add their own ideas? Should they stick to a specific theme? Will the conversation take the form of a phone call, interview, or casual chat between friends?

Have pairs upload a photo of their dialogue on this page.

Debrief

• Which conversations are worth performing or reading aloud?
• Do the pairs show surprising differences in their dialogues?
• Do students feel they have gained a better understanding of these two artists? Why or why not?

Differentiation Questions

• To what extent do you recognize the spirit of their time in these quotes?
• Can you connect the quotes to their art? Or were you surprised by what the artist said? Explain.
• Which quote will stay with you? Why?

n

&

Talking i   quotes

Theme: Love and Society

William Shakespeare

Jane Austen

Choose an author: Are you looking for quotes from William Shakespeare or from Jane Austen?

1

Collect quotes – Find at least 6 quotes from your chosen author. Make sure they express different emotions and fit within the theme of 'Love and Society'.

2

Build a conversation – Find a partner to build a conversation with. Use the quotes to create a dialogue between the two authors. It should feel logical and natural, as if it’s really a conversation.

3

Provide context – Add a brief introduction in which you explain who the writers are and in what situation they find themselves.

4

Introduction:

Time to get creative with the words of two literary greats: William Shakespeare and Jane Austen! You will create a conversation, but with a twist – you can only use quotes from one of these writers.

Instructions:

1. Choose a writer – Will you go for Shakespeare or Austen?
2. Collect quotes – Find at least 6 quotes from your chosen writer. Make sure they express different emotions and topics.
3. Create a conversation – Use the quotes to form a dialogue between the two writers. It should flow logically and naturally, as if it were an actual conversation.
4. Provide context – Add a short introduction explaining who the writers are and the situation they are in.

What to focus on:

Logical conversation – Make sure the quotes fit together well.

Creativity – Make it interesting! It can be funny, serious, romantic, or dramatic.

Clarity – Note the source of each quote (e.g., the title of the book or play).

Have fun and let the words of Shakespeare or Austen speak for you!

n

&

Talking i   quotes

Theme: Love and Society

William Shakespeare

Jane Austen

Choose an author: Are you looking for quotes from William Shakespeare or from Jane Austen?

1

Collect quotes – Find at least 6 quotes from your chosen author. Make sure they express different emotions and fit within the theme of 'Love and Society'.

2

Build a Conversation – Create two characters who have a conversation with each other. Use the quotes to form the dialogue between the two characters. It should be logical and feel natural, as if it's a real conversation.

3

Provide context – Add a brief introduction in which you explain who the characters are, what brought them together, and the situation they find themselves in.

4

Introduction:

Time to get creative with the words of two literary giants: William Shakespeare and Jane Austen! You will be putting together a conversation, but with a twist – you may only use quotes from one of these writers.

Instructions:

Choose a writer – Will you go with Shakespeare or Austen?

Collect quotes – Find at least 6 quotes from your chosen writer. Make sure they express different emotions and topics.

Build a conversation – Create two characters who will engage in a conversation. Use the quotes to construct the dialogue between the two characters. It should feel logical and natural, as if it’s really a conversation.

Provide context – Add a brief introduction where you explain who the characters are, what brought them together, and what situation they find themselves in.

What to pay attention to:

Logical conversation – Ensure the quotes flow well together.

Creativity – Make it interesting! It can be funny, serious, romantic, or dramatic.

Clarity – Note the source of each quote (for example, the title of the book or play).

Have fun and let the words of Shakespeare or Austen speak for you!

Albert Einstein

Richard Feynman

versus

Talking in Quotes

The philosophical thinker vs. The playful thinker

Albert Einstein
vs
Richard Feynman

Instruction

• Have the students search for quotes from both scientists.
• Take turns adding a quote to the word cloud. One time, Einstein says something, and the next student responds with a quote from Feynman. This way, the class builds a conversation between the two scientists and learns about the thinking of both.

Tip: Drag the answers attributed to Einstein to the left and those attributed to Feynman to the right.

Option: Let the students first find various quotes and place them in the word cloud. Then, work with the class to arrange the answers into a possible conversation.

Questions: 

• Can the students identify which quote belongs to whom?
• What can they tell about Einstein's and Feynman's ways of thinking after this exercise?

In conversation

with... 

Let your favorite character from the book you are currently reading take a seat here. Who (or what) would sit across from them?

Here is where your favorite character from the book you're reading can sit. Are you curious about the conversation partner?

Instructions

1. Pair up the students.
2. Each student decides who will sit in the chair. This will be a character from the book they just read or are currently reading.
3. Make sure the books are available.
4. The two characters will have a conversation with each other. They may only speak using quotes or statements made by their characters in the book. This way, the students create a dialogue using characters from two different books.

Reflection Questions:

• Was it difficult to have a real conversation? Why or why not?
• Have you started thinking differently about your character?
• What did you like about your conversation partner?
• Would you want to read that book now?

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